Steering device



May 19, 1931. A. WEISS 36 STEERING DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1928 Patented May 19,1931

Lamas-'- ABRAHAM WEISS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

srnnnnvo DEVICE Application filed December 31,1928. Serial No. 329,528.

. This invention relates to improvements in steering devices, being particularly'directed to a system of control, wherein the directional actuation of a motor vehicle is controlled by hydraulic pressure.

' Broadly, it is an object ofthis invention to provide a steering mechanism, so constructed, as to provide for the directional actuation of a motor vehicle through pressure n imparted through hydraulic influence mechanisms, whoseaction is initiated and controllable, by the operation of the steering wheel.

Specifically, it is aimed to provide a hydraulically influenced steering mechanism, 7

as to necessitate only a slight turn of the,

steering wheel, in order to cause a positive directional actuation of the vehicle wheel.

Still further, it is aimed to provide a system whereby the slight actuation of a steering wheel brings a'bout a positive directional movement in the proper direction of the vehicle wheel, at the same time eliminating the shocks which usually are transmitted from the vehicle wheel to the steering wheel,

in the present type of device, as the vehicle wheel progresses over uneven surfaces or veers slightly in one direction or another.

' Still further, it is aimed to provide a series 40 of fluid pressure devices, one relatively larger than the other, whereby a slight movement of the steering mechanism, as transmitted to one of said pressure devices, is caused to be magnified considerably through the medium-of the second of such devices, with the resultant proportionate directional activityof'a vehicle wheel.

These and other advantages,capabilities, and features of the invention will appearv from the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment therefor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a sectional side view, showing the steering mechanism.

Figure 2, is a plan view, partly in section, of the front axle, with the elements thereon shown in their relation to the structure shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3, is a detail of the knuckle structure.

Figure 4, is a detail sectionalview of the front elevation, showing the structure of the second fluid chamber.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, numeral 1,'represents a'steering wheel of the type commonly used in motor vehicles, which steering wheel has attabhed thereto, a shaft, a section'of which is round as at 2, at the end of which round section, there is formed a squared projection 3, the shaft 2, of the squared portion 3, being contained in the casing member 1a, and the steering wheel proper, being held from lateral displacement from said casing 1a, by means of a collar 16.

Within the casing 1a, thereis positioned a movable cylinder or hollow. rod 4, whose interior is squared, so as to have fitting therein, the squared portion 3, extending from the steering wheel 1. a

The casing 1, at its extremity, has a projecting flange '10, which is attached to the cylinder 7, which cylinder is fixed to the- .chassis .or frame work of the car 12, as by a bracket 12a. This cylinder is divided into 85 two sections, separated by a central wall 7a,

forming two chambers 8 and ll. Th'e chamber\8, is interiorly threaded as at 8a, to provide for contact with a screw member 6,

which screw member is fixed tofthe cylindrical rod 4, as by means of a key 411, the rod is desired to be taken. In that case the steerbeing extended in the form of a piston 9, ing wheel 1, is turned to the right, causingthe passing through an aperture in the wall 7a, sqglared rod 3, associated with the steering the purpose of which will be later described. w eel to actuatethe hollow cylinder or rod Referring to Figure 1, there is attached to 4, carried in the casing 1a, which hollow cylthe rod 9, in the chamber 11, a piston meminder is adapted to reciprocate in said cylinher 10, provided with the usual piston rings der and which rod is fixed to the screw 6,

s and leather washers, which piston is adapted causing the same to be displaced downwardly,

to displace fluid herein, in the form of oil, and carried with it of course, the rod 4, and

through outlets 18 and 19, formed respecits projection 9, forming the ,piston rod,

tively in the end 110:, and the wall 7 a, formwhich is interconnected with the piston 10, ing the boundary of said piston chamber. in the compression chamber ll, displacement A plurality of outlets are formed in the downwardly of the piston 10, in the chamber side wall of the cylinder, which outlets lead 11, causes fluid to be pressed through .con-

to means of connected pipes or hose 17, formduit 18, in the left side of the chamber 20, mg conduits to a screw operated feed pump and causes fluid from the chamber 20, to be 14:, mounted on the dashboard 13, and which. urged through conduit 19, into the upper feed pump is adapted to form a, reservoir section of the compression chamber 11. of oil, for maintaining the proper amount of This flow of fluid into the left side of the fluid in the fluid chamber 11, by means of cylinder 20, causes the piston against which the actuation ofaplunger 16 therein,through the fluid acts, to be displaced towards the the control of the hand wheel 15, check valves right and causes piston rod 216, and the tie 3Qa and 306, are formed in the respective rod 23, to act upon the knuckle spindle 24, arms of the feed pi e 17 for allowing the thereby displacing the vehicle wheel towards fluid to be forcedf rom the reservoir into the right. the chamber,'but preventing any flow of fluid In order that any displacement to the left back from the compression-chamber into the or right of the vehicle wheel, due to contact reservoir. I thereofv with foreign substances or ruts in Referring to Figure 2, there is there shown, the road may not be transmitted to the steera chamber 20, in the form of a cylinder, ing wheel through a reversal of the above though the shape and size 'of the same may operation, a plurality of air chambers 26, as be varied, in accordance with the type of veshown in- Figure 5, are formed on opposite hicle in use, inwhich cylindrical chamber, sides of the fluid chamber 20,.so that shocks there is adapted to be positioned a piston 21, originating as above and transmitted by the having on opposite sides thereof, fluid which tie rods to the piston 20, and to the fluid in is fed intothe chamber, through means of the chamber 20, may be absorbed and coma the feed pipes 18 and 19, leading from the pensated for by the cushioning eflect of the compression chamber 11, piston rods 21a and air being compressed in such air chamber.

21b, fixed to the piston 21, and projecting in It is obvious that various changes and opposite directions through the end walls 20a modifications may be made to the details of and 20b, of the piston chamber 21, are adaptconstruction without departing from the gened to be interconnected to the knuckle mecheral spirit of the invention as set forth 1n the anism, for actuating the wheels of the vehicle appended claims.

as will be further described, through the uni- I claim: versal joint 22, shown in Figure 4, the con- 1. A control for steering mechanism 1n nection between the piston rod and the wheel motor vehicles, comprising a steering wheel,

' I comprises an adjustable tie rod comprising asqua-red shaft associated withsaidsteering two elements 23a and 236, having teeth 24, wheel, ahollow rod havingasquared interiorformed therein for positioning the same in I cooperating with said shaft, a casing having the desired relationship, whereby proper con a fluid chamber, and a driving chamber nection of the members 236 may be made to through which said rod passes, means 1n said the ball bearing universal joint 25, shown in driving chamber and interlocked with said Figure 4, leading to the knuckle spindle 24, rod for causing the same to reciprocate upon whlch is directly connected to the vehicle wheel. c

It will be seen that the first pressure chamber 11, is considerably larger than the second pressure chamber, 20, with the result that slight displacement of the piston 10, will cause a comparatively considerable displacement of piston 21, which when translated to the vehicle wheel produces a considerable di-i rectional actuation.'

Inoperation the device functions as. folrotation of said steering wheel, aplunger at the end of said rod contacting with fluid in said fluid chamber, orts throu h which fluid may pass upon disp acement o saidplunger, and means 0- erable through displacement of fluid throug one of said respective (ports, to cause the contemplated directional 'splacement of a vehicle.

2. A control for steering mechanism in motor vehicles, comprising a steering wheel, a squared shaft extending from said steering lows: Let it be understood that a right turn wheel, a hollow rod intenorly squared to rotate with and reciprocate along said squared shaft,'a casing com rising two compartments through which sai rod asses, said casing being interiorly threade in one compart- 5 ment, and having, cooperating therewith, a nut keyed to said rod, fluid in the second of said compartments, ports at o posite ends of i said second compartment, t rough which fluid may flow, and a plunger fixed to the extremity oi said rod for contacting with the fluid, whereby fluid may be displaced through one of said ports, and drawn infrom the other of said ports, whereby to cause a directional change of movements of wheels of a motor vehicle.

ABRAHAM WEISS. 

